The 'other' Rieger returns
Christchurch has lost so many pipe organs owing to the earthquakes, but is fortunate in still having two fine pipe organs built by Rieger of Austria.
The main one is the city organ in the Christchurch Town Hall, (1997, extended 2010) which was formally re-opened in March 2019 after an 8-year silence during the post-earthquake rebuilding period.
On 6 March 2019, Town Hall organist Martin Setchell gave two celebratory concerts which each attracted almost full houses of 2000+ people all thirsty for the sound of live organ music once again.
But there is also a 'baby brother': the two manual, tracker action organ which was installed in the historic church of St Peters, Upper Riccarton in 2001. This beautiful stone church was seriously damaged by the earthquakes, but has been repaired. The South Island Organ Company removed the organ and recently re-installed it in the church, on the opposite side of the chancel from where it previously stood.
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(The photo above was taken as the organ was removed in 2014)
John Hargraves of the SIOC reports that:
'The earthquake damaged pipes have been fully restored and it’s now stronger, with several new beams supporting the upper structure, as in its new location in the room the organ no longer has a roof beam going through it. The facade pipe tower casings have been deepened to suit and the wall panels and framework made secure and easier to dismantle and reinstall. The key action and slider seals have been refitted to work freely and reliably. The longer pipes are now supported with separate stays to keep them safe in any further earthquakes. The Principal 8’ pipes in the upper case have been replicated on the soundboard for safe access and stable tuning. The Swell box panels have been resized for assembly under the low ceiling, now covering the rear half of the organ. The casework has been repainted in its original colours to integrate the new work with the old.'
On Sunday 28 February the church held its re-opening services. Unfortunately the numbers were limited to 100 because of the last-minute COVID-19 Level 2 alert meaning many had to be turned away, as only officiating clergy, vestry, choir, orchestra and fundraising committee were guaranteed entry.
The good news is that the organ will soon be heard in solo concert at a public 're-inaugural' recital on Sunday at 2pm,18 April. Appropriately this will be given by Martin Setchell who helped the church acquire the organ through his contact with Rieger Orgelbau, and gave the first inaugural recital 20 years ago in August 2001. Martin plans to repeat some items played on that day, including Buxtehude's Praeludium in G minor BuxWV149, and Handel's organ concerto in F Op. 4 No 5.
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Encyclopaedia alert!
Do you need to know more about the finer details of organs than even Google can provide?
Help is hovering on the horizon. A new organ encyclopedia is in the final stages of preparation by Kimberly Marshall, Goldman Endowed Professor of Organ at the Arizona State University School of Music.
Kimberly began her research project more than 20 years ago with the Australian organist/scholar, David Rumsey (died 2017). It is now being edited and brought up-to-date by Kimberly with a new team: Christopher Holman, Michael König, and Alexander Meszler. It is hoped that eventually the whole project will appear as a free source, publicly accessible online.
The encyclopedia is an alphabetical listing of articles about aspects of the organ, including its history (from 3rd century BC), technical development, organists, composers for the organ, and specifications (complete list of registers and features) of important instruments, all cross-referenced. The integration of so many topics related to the organ makes this project unique. Another important aspect is that it includes information about organs from around the world, especially the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many former “colonies,” including Bolivia and the Philippines. It will be the first "global" encyclopedia of the organ.
Martin Setchell was invited to collate information and help edit the summary article on New Zealand. There will also be individual entries about prominent NZ figures in its organ history and detailed articles with individual specifications about important instruments. Watch this space for news of the launch.
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If you need inspiration for gifts for yet another birthday/mother's day/father's day/dog's day... or whatever, don't forget books are always acceptable. Go to our Pipeline Press book page (and if you haven't caught up with our new "Enigmatic Variations - Puzzles for Musicians" this is where you can buy it.) The perennially popular "Organ-isms: Anecdotes from the World of the King of Instruments" is great for a giggle, and the weighty "Organs and Organists: Their Inside Stories" is a substantial offering.
CDs are another great gift and although we have now only two titles left in our stock, here you will find unique recordings by Martin Setchell on the Cardboard Cathedral Rodgers, or the restored and enlarged Christchurch Hown Hall Rieger. (The recording on the famous Snetzler organ of St Laurence in the market town of Ludlow in Shropshire, called "A Taste of Shropshire", has now sold out and is out of print, sorry. )
If even these don't spin your turntables, a multitude of useful, fun, strange, unusual, or plain ordinary gifts with organ or musical themes are to be found at our organ gift shop on Zazzle. But do allow time for creation and postage, especially at this time of Covid restrictions.
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Notes from the Swellbox
- Wander around the world, by day or night, and pretend you can travel again. https://citywalks.live/
- Comedian Bill Bailey very cleverly Answers 10 Random Questions Through Music: https://youtu.be/AcPTFXzh0LQ
- It's Easter time and what better time to listen to the whole 2hours and 44 minutes of Bach's St Matthew Passion? And a sublime performance by the Netherlands Bach Society. The notes are worth reading too.
- For those of us who can enjoy such sounds, here is a riveting short film which will help us count our blessings. A must-see movie, in my opinion: The Silent Child
- What if every country had a Covid vaccine? Irish comedians Foil Arms and Hog have some ideas in this video
- As a final tribute to our beloved Burmese cats, Kate and Bobby, here is a collection photos and videos taken over the 15 years we were privileged enough to have been dominated by them.
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Bobby, our inimitable Burmese comedienne, constant companion, sub-editor and sometime contributor to these columns, lover of monster machinery and men, collector of corks, pens, glue sticks and like objects, has gone. Bobby pined for her litter sister Kate since April last year and was lost without her; the two were inseparable and never spent a night apart in 15 years. Bobby had developed severe IBD and the kindest final act after all we have been through together was to have her gently and decently put to sleep. Life will not be the same.
R.I.P. Bobby
17/11/2006 - 24/03/2021
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